EVERTON begin pre-season training today - with two of their youngsters still unsure whether they will open the new campaign at Goodison Park.

The Blues are back at Bellefield this morning with no new faces after a summer of much transfer speculation but little action to date.

Li Tie has so far been the only departure after Everton allowed his loan spell to expire without coming to agreement over a permanent transfer, although chief executive Michael Dunford has stressed that talks are on-going.

But Kevin McLeod and Peter Clarke face an uncertain pre-season with their Goodison futures in the balance.

McLeod is ready to hold showdown talks with Blues boss David Moyes, who returned from a family holiday last night.

The 22-year-old is unhappy with the new one-year contract offered by the club, and wants to know if he figures in the manager's long-term plans.

If not, McLeod is prepared to end an association with the club where he progressed through the ranks to make a handful of first-team appearances.

Clarke, meanwhile, has been the subject of interest from both Blackpool and Northampton in the close season.

Northampton insisted they had a #200,000 bid rejected, while Blackpool boss Steve McMahon claimed Moyes may be willing to part with the England under-21 star nearer the start of the season on August 16.

Everton's interest in Oldham defender Fitz Hall has also cast doubts over the 21-year-old's future.

Clarke, along with the other Everton players involved in summer internationals, does not return to training until next Thursday. He spent spells on loan at Blackpool and Port Vale last season and has not appeared for the Blues first team since the FA Cup defeat at Shrewsbury in January.

Moyes arrives back at Bellefield ready to decide whether to follow up his interest in transfer targets such as Sean Davis of Fulham and West Brom's Jason Koumas.

The Blues boss also remains confident a deal can be struck with Liaoning Badao for Li Tie, despite competition from clubs such as Leeds.